I'd like to preface this review by saying it was hard to find a picture on Google images that was appropriate for readers of all ages.

This one's pretty much the only tame one I could find.

Evil Dead has a lot to live up to. The original classic, which was Sam Raimi's debut, is adored by many and has a whopping 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. Watching it now, the acting, story, and the effects may feel dated, but you still have to have an appreciation for the campy, gory, scream-fest that it is...not to mention the visual pyrotechnics and directing ingenuities Raimi had to implement to circumvent a limited budget. The infamous demons rushing through the woods effect is actually just the camera being run around at a low angle by Raimi and Bruce Campbell.

With that said, in my opinion Evil Dead is hands down one of the best remakes I've seen. And also the best horror film I've seen in years.

Relative newcomer Fede Alvarez takes the helm as director, but he has the blessing of both Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell -- both of them producers of this film, with Raimi as a constant creative consultant as well. This movie is supposed to be what the original The Evil Dead would have been, if they had the budget and effects at the time.

Alvarez wisely stays as far away from CG effects as possible, relying almost completely on prosthetics and practical effects, and the result is some truly cringe-worthy, stomach-turning scenes.

I don't want to say too much about the film except that if you haven't seen the original, I would advise watching it first. Those that have seen the original will appreciate the remake that much more and will also know what to expect going into this movie (notwithstanding some sly winks such as the Michigan sweatshirt and the old car). This is a warning for those that haven't seen the original or any of the new trailers. This movie is not for the faint of heart. It's not for those that get easily queasy. It pushes its R-rating as far as it can go. There are definitely some images you cannot unsee.

Evil Dead doesn't mess with the original formula too much. It retains enough of the original flavor and also manages to have its own flair, which is highly appreciated. A few of the characters are fleshed out a bit more to make the story more believable. As in all horror stories though, you can never underappreciate the stupidity of the characters involved.

Seriously. Can we make it any clearer?

But for those that complain about that element or the weakness of the script, I have to point out (at the risk of getting thrashed by some deadites) The Evil Dead and The Evil Dead 2, which was an endless tirade of the stupid decisions that Ash, the main character makes.

This movie is best seen with a crowd of people that will laugh, groan, and cheer along with you. If you were a fan of the original, you owe it to yourself to see the remake...If only to obtain a new meaning to the horrified exclamation: "Her eyes...what was wrong with her eyes?"